Students, Alumni Decry Professor Ali Khan's Arrest; HSCW's Chief Gives New Spin

"Nothing remotely misogynistic about my comments that could be construed as anti-women," said the Professor earlier.

Ashoka Professor Ali Khan Mahmudabad has been arrested for a social media post on Operation Sindoor.

(Photo: The Quint)

Professor Ali Khan Mahmudabad, an Associate Professor at Ashoka University (Political Science) has been sent to judicial custody by a local court in Haryana till 27 May, as per reports. He was arrested over his comments about the press briefings on Operation Sindoor.

His arrest came days after he received summons from the Haryana State Commission For Women (HSCW) for the same. But Renu Bhatia, HSCW's chief has also given a new narrative to the professor's arrest, tracing his family history.

Meanwhile, on 19 May, the Supreme Court agreed to list a petition challenging Mahmudabad's arrest. The matter has been listed before Chief Justice BR Gavai and Justice Augustine George Masih.

"He has been arrested for a patriotic statement," noted Senior Advocate Kapil Sabil who filed the petition.

The arrest has reportedly taken place on the basis of two complaints. One filed by Yogesh Jatheri, a leader of the BJP's youth wing in Haryana and the other by Bhatia over his alleged absence regarding the summons.

Some days ago, the professor had released a public statement wherein he wrote that his comments were "misread and misunderstood to such an extent that they have inverted their meaning."

'Because of His Name': Political Leaders Condemn Khan's Arrest

Political leaders, mainly from Congress and TMC have called out Professor Mahmudabad's arrest. Calling it "antithetical to free speech," Jamiat-Ulema-i-Hind also condemned the arrest.

In a scathing post, Congress' Jignesh Mevani wrote:

"This is not just about one man; it’s about silencing dissent, punishing thought, and weaponizing the law against a Muslim scholar whose only “crime” is his courage to speak truth. The Haryana Women’s Commission, silent on the cries of women wrestlers and the state’s abysmal sex ratio, suddenly finds fault in Ali Khan’s words—words that upheld India’s honor!"

'Calculated Harassment': Ashoka Faculty

On the other hand, Ashoka University's faculty member Aparna Vaidik posted their official statement on Facebook, wherein they condemned the "calculated harassment" of Mahmudabad and demanded to remove the "groundless and untenable charges" against him. Further offering solidarity to Mahmudabad, the statement read:

"The Faculty Association stands in full support of our colleague: an invaluable member of the university community, a beloved and respected teacher and friend to his students, and a deeply responsible citizen, who brings all his energy and learning to promoting communal harmony and the greater good."

Statement from Ashoka's faculty.

(Photo: Facebook)

In the complaint filed by Jatheri, these BNS sections include: Section 196(1)B (promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion), 197(1)C (assertions prejudicial to national integration), 152 (act endangering sovereignty, unity and integrity of India) and 299 (malicious acts, intended to outrage religious feelings) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).

The second FIR, by Bhatia, was lodged under sections 353, 79, 152 and 169 (1) of the BNS, said DCP Sonipat (crime) Narendra Singh.

'Heartbreaking To See Him Treated This Way': Prof Khan's Students

Meanwhile, students and alumni who have been taught by Professor Mahmudabad have also come out in his support, including La Martiniere College, the school he studied in.

Drawing from their one-on-one experiences with the Professor, the students laid down his range of teaching, how he nurtured critical thinking among other qualities.

"He is incredibly knowledgeable about everything — from the Gita to the Quran to the Constitution and everything in between. He loves teaching and his students, and has been nothing but brilliant. It is incredibly heartbreaking to see him treated this way," wrote a student.

Students of Banish the Poets also called out Professor Khan's arrest.

"Throughout the course, Professor Khan lectured on love, consistently emphasising secular values such as reason, compassion, justice, and freedom of thought as the foundation of meaningful dialogue. His wrongful arrest is a stark violation of not just academic freedom, but of the very principles he taught us and stands for."

'His Grandfather Funded Muslim League': Renu Bhatia

Meanwhile Bhatia, who filed one of the cases because of which led to the professor's arrest, has now spun another narrative.

In this video as circulated on X, she can be heard saying, "His grandfather used to fund the Muslim League, they have an old relation.....I think the date was 1957, that he was a citizen of Pakistan. This issue of funding went on but more needs to be probed. If you are professor here, you are a citizen of this country, you can't play with the children of my country. Modi ji is there, Modi ji is strong."

Many right-wing accounts have now propagated this campaign against the professor, using this line of argument, unrelated to his social media posts.

While speaking to ANI, she had said, "You have the right to free speech, but you don't have the right to demoralise, degrade or talk wrong about any women. HSCW will not allow, Renu Bhatia will not allow..."

The Posts That Lead to Prof Mahmudabad's Arrest

On 8 May, Mahmudabad posted his comments on Facebook, praising India's military efforts through Operation Sindoor. He also wrote against advocating for war.

However, he came under fire for his comments drawing an analogy for applauding Colonel Sofia Qureshi on one hand, while being silent for victims who are lynched by mobs and whose homes are bulldozed.

He wrote, "I am very happy to see so many right wing commentators applauding Colonel Sophia Qureishi but perhaps they could also equally loudly demand that the victims of mob lynchings, arbitrary bulldozing and others who are victims of the BJP’s hate mongering be protected as Indian citizens. The optics of two women soldiers presenting their findings is importantly but optics must translate to reality on the ground otherwise it’s just hypocrisy..."

Professor Mahmudabad's original post.

(Photo: Facebook)

In another post on 11 May, he talked about the "blind bloodlust for war."

The Haryana State Commission for Women sent him a notice on 12 May, stating that a prima facie review of his social media posts reveal various concerns which include, "disparaging of women in uniform, including Colonel Sofiya Qureshi and Wing Command Vyomika Singh, undermining their role as professional officers in the Indian Armed forces..."

Comments Being 'Construed As Anti-Women': Prof Mahmudabad

Few days later, on 14 May, he came out with an official public statement in response to the summons by HSWC. He pointed out that these summons failed to highlight how his post was against rights or laws for women. He also underscored that he had including scathing remarks against the use of terrorists by the Pakistan military as well.

Moreover, he added that his lawyers have submitted his detailed reply to these summons and have represented him in front of the Commission too. He wrote:

"Contrary to the allegations, my post appreciated the fact that the armed forces chose Colonel Sofia Qureshi and Wing Commander Vyomika Singh for the press conference to highlight the fact that the dream of the founders of our Republic, of an India which is united in its diversity, is still very much alive. I even applauded members of the right wing who supported Colonel Qureshi and invited them to have the same attitude for common Indian Muslims who face demonisation and persecution on a daily basis."

He added that there was nothing "remotely misogynistic about his comments that could be construed as anti-women."

Professor Mahmudabad's statement on X.

(Photo: Ali Khan Mahmudabad/X)

Since facing the summons, even in his public statement, he wrote, "This is a new form of censorship and harassment, which invents issues where there are none."